Community Employment Schemes Eligibility

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 4 November 2015

Wednesday, 4 November 2015

Ceisteanna (49)

Michael Ring

Ceist:

49. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the reason a person must be in receipt of a social protection payment for a period of at least one year before the person can be considered for schemes such as the Tús work placement initiative or a community employment scheme; if she will outline if this is encouraging persons who wish to go on one of those schemes to wait on the live register until such time as they are eligible for same; her plans to change this ruling; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38616/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Social Protection

Community Employment (CE) and Tús - the community work placement initiative - are two of a suite of interventions funded and managed by the Department of Social Protection to support long-term social welfare claimants to return to the labour market. The Government’s policy for activation is set out in Pathways to Work and includes measures for the long-term unemployed (on the Live Register for 12 months or more) to re-engage with the labour market. The nature of flows to and from the Live Register do not justify the provision of such interventions for those who have become recently unemployed. Interventions such as CE and Tús should not be considered an alternative to work and entry is restricted so as to ensure that they do not become a factor for signing on the Live Register in the first place.

The Department does not have any plans to change the duration element of the qualification criteria for participation on Tús or CE. It is considered that the existing criteria are adequate to meet the objectives of both programmes set out in Pathways to Work.